The bail system in California is critical, as it ensures defendants attend all court-scheduled sessions. Those who are eligible for bail post it to guarantee their appearances. Since the local jails cannot hold everyone the police arrest, the bail release can also ease congestion in jails and the burden on taxpayers. It can give defendants time to prepare for trial. Thus, most defendants facing criminal charges in Fontana are eligible for bail. Additionally, they can partner with a bail bond company for an easy and cost-effective bail process.
Contact a bail bond company to start the process if you or someone you know is under arrest. This ensures you walk out of jail quickly after an arrest. At Riverside Bail Bonds, we make this process very easy and convenient. You can access our service online or on your phone and enjoy a convenient payment method and plan that suits your financial situation and preferences. Our service is also highly confidential to protect your reputation.
The Arrest and Booking Process in Fontana
Law enforcement officers make an arrest when someone is suspected of committing an offense. Remember that being suspected does not necessarily mean the person is guilty of a crime. The arrested person must undergo a hearing before a jury hearing to determine their case's course. However, the police will likely treat you cautiously after an arrest simply because you are suspected of a crime. They take you to the station for booking, whereby details of your crime, arrest, and personal information are booked into the police database. The arresting officer will also run a background check to determine your criminal history.
After booking, the police transfer the matter to a prosecutor, who files charges against you. The prosecutor will consider your case’s details and criminal history to determine whether to file misdemeanor or felony charges. Once the judge receives your case, they will set a hearing day and time on which you must first appear in court. The initial hearing is usually to hear your charges, enter a plea, and discuss the bail matter. First court hearings are generally conducted a few hours after your arrest.
During this hearing, the judge will read your charges to ensure you know and understand them. They will also ask you to enter a plea. You have three options: not guilty, no contest, or guilty plea. If you are guilty of the charges you face, you will enter a guilty plea to send the case straight to sentencing. However, you will enter a no-contest or not-guilty plea to defend yourself at a trial. The judge may consider bail during the hearing, depending on the charges and arguments presented.
Although bail is a lawful matter whereby some defendants can be freed on bail after an arrest, not everyone is eligible. Judges consider several factors in determining a defendant’s eligibility for bail, including the following:
The Severity of Your Charges
Most decisions judges and prosecutors make regarding your case will depend on the severity of your charges. Some charges are severe and could cause the judge to deny you bail. For example, if you face charges for a violent felony, and the members of your community are terrified of you, it will be a bad idea for the judge to release you on bail pending trial.
Your Flight Risk
Judges must also consider a defendant’s ability to remain within their community after bail. Sadly, some defendants flee immediately after a pretrial release. This makes it difficult for courts to conclude criminal cases within given timelines. The judge must consider whether you have strong ties within your community to grant you bail. A family, a stable or permanent job, or a well-established business determine this. The judge can deny you bail if you have nothing to keep you within the community.
Your History of Skipping Bail
If this is not your first arrest, the judge will consider how well or otherwise you performed if you were previously freed on bail. If you have a history of skipping bail, the judge can assume you will do the same this time. This can be a good reason for them to deny you bail.
If the judge denies you bail, you will remain in jail until a court hears and determines your case. However, if you are eligible for bail, the judge will set the amount before concluding the initial arraignment. They will set the amount according to the details of your case. If you face a felony, your bail will be higher than bail for a misdemeanor.
How California Judges Set Bail
California courts ask for bail to guarantee that a defendant will appear in court for all scheduled hearings regarding their case. They pay a particular amount to the court, which holds the money until the case is heard and determined. The court refunds the full amount to the defendant after the trial. However, the court can forfeit your bail if you fail to appear. This means you will not receive a refund for your money after the case if you fail to appear.
Judges determine a defendant’s bail during the initial arraignment. They consider several factors in deciding the bail a defendant must pay to guarantee their appearance. The most common of these factors are:
An Existing Bail Schedule
A bail schedule is a predetermined list of offenses and the amount defendants must pay if arrested for those offenses. Every county has a bail schedule criminal court judges use to determine how much bail a particular charge requires. Bail amounts in these schedules are set according to the offense. A misdemeanor will have a lower amount than a felony in a bail schedule. Some felonies, like violent felonies, will have a higher amount than standard felonies.
Although judges do not always stick to a bail schedule when setting bail, they consider it to determine the amount to put in your case. The judge can leave the bail as it is on the bail schedule when setting your bail or increase or lower it. This mainly depends on the details of your case.
Your Case Details
The judge will consider the particulars of your case to determine your bail. For example, they will consider whether you face felony or misdemeanor charges. They will also consider any aggravating or mitigating factors in your case. Aggravating factors, like an injury, death, or a child, can cause the judge to increase your bail considerably. Some grave felonies, like sex or drug crimes, will have a higher bail than less severe felonies.
Mitigating factors can work in your favor when the judge sets your bail. For example, if this is your first offense, or you acted under duress, the judge can release you without bail or set a lower bail.
Your Criminal History
If you are a habitual or chronic offender, the judge can set your bail high or deny it altogether. Generally, a second or subsequent offender is not eligible for release on personal recognizance. The number of prior arrests or convictions in your record will determine how the judge will set your bail. If your criminal history will likely aggravate the underlying charge, you could be a flight risk. This means the judge will set a higher bail or deny it.
Judges set higher bail to make it challenging to skip it. Remember that skipping bail can result in bail forfeiture. If you pay a considerable amount to the court to guarantee your appearance, you want to receive it all back after the trial. This will keep you coming back for hearings.
How To Post Bail in Fontana
Once the judge grants you bail, you must prepare to post it to be free. The judge will give you payment options that the court accepts. This can include posting cash bail, using a property bond, or Fontana bail bonds.
Cash bail is very popular, as it has existed for years, even before bail bonds. It entails paying the total bail to guarantee your appearances. The court holds the money until the end of your case when it refunds it. Except for general court fines and other charges discussed beforehand, you should receive full bail if you make all court appearances. However, bail forfeiture can happen if the court forfeits it for failure to appear. Posting cash bail is quick and easy. However, raising the full bail can be challenging if you do not have ready cash.
Property bonds work the same way, whereby you provide valuable property to the court to hold for the period of your case. The property guarantees your appearance and is available at the end of your case. However, you can lose it if the court forfeits your bail for failure to appear. However, a property bond can delay your stay in jail because the court has to evaluate and process it before accepting it as a bond.
Fontana bail bonds are a commonly used option for securing pretrial release. Third-party companies run profit-making businesses to help defendants post bail. Their services are available for all defendants, regardless of your financial situation or case details. They help defendants facing misdemeanors and felonies, provided they are eligible for bail. Working with a bail bondsman is encouraged if you want a quick, straightforward way out of police detention. Bail bondsmen work around the clock to make this happen.
Fontana bail bonds are available for a small fee. Generally, bail bondsmen charge a 10% non-refundable fee for their service. The fee is paid upfront as a premium for the company to start the bail process. These companies have other requirements and conditions you must fulfill to benefit from their service. For example, you could be asked to provide a guarantee for the bail bond service and a cosigner to help you in the process. After fulfilling all the requirements, it takes such companies only a few minutes to process your bail. You should be back to your family in minutes.
How to obtain Fontana Bail Bonds
You can start looking for a reliable bail bondsman after your arrest. Since this can be challenging while behind bars, a trustworthy friend or family member can help. They can double up as your cosigner to fulfill one of the bail bondsman’s requirements. Your cosigner will find a bail bondsman who offers reliable and confidential services at an affordable rate near you. Since most bail bondsmen today operate online, you can find their services online for a convenient and quick search. Once they have one in mind, your cosigner can contact the company to learn more about its service and charges.
They do not have to visit the company’s offices in person to do this because bail bondsmen today operate online or on the phone for their client’s convenience. This saves people looking for bail bonds a considerable amount of time. It also makes accessing their services easy, even from a different town or state.
If your cosigner agrees to the terms and conditions of the Fontana bail bondsman and is ready to start the process, the bail bondsman will require your identification and case details. They will ask for your name, date of birth, address, nature of your charges, a physical description of your appearance, and anything else that could help them find you. You can provide any valuable item as collateral for the bail bonds, including your art collection, stocks or bonds, a vehicle, or a home.
With everything ready to start your bail process, the bail bondsman can start it after your initial arraignment. Then, they will know how much the court expects from you for a pretrial release. Fontana bail bondsmen handle the bail process on your behalf. They have experience working with local courts and jails and will quickly navigate the court process with minimal difficulties. Once everything is ready, you should be prepared to return home to reunite with your loved ones, return to work, and prepare for the trial.
The Benefits that Fontana Bail Bonds Offer
Working with a bail bondsman offers excellent convenience for defendants and their families. An arrest is not always an easy matter to deal with. It has excellent challenges that defendants and their loved ones face. However, bail bondsmen offer great convenience in the way you access their services and the way they process your bail. For example, you can hire bail bondsmen without meeting them in person. This means your loved ones can help you start the bail process even if they are far from where you have been arrested. Bail bondsmen also offer convenience when processing your release. You are not directly involved in the process, which can be confusing and stressful.
Bail bonds are also easy to access. With so many bail bondsmen operating in and around Fontana, you have several options when looking for a bail bond service. However, you have to select the service to engage with carefully. Not everyone who claims to offer reliable and effective bail bonds can be trusted. Some companies are in business only for the profits. Consider factors like dependability, cost-effectiveness, and any extra service a bail bondsman offers before signing up with one. You should ensure that the company you choose meets all your needs.
Bail bonds are also cost-effective. With cash bail, you have to raise a substantial amount to pay your full bail, but bail bondsmen only need a fraction of your bail. However, remember that the premium you pay for the bail bonds is non-refundable. Typically, these companies charge their service at a 10% rate, which is easier to raise than the entire bail. Also, remember that this fee is usually non-refundable. The premium also acts as the fee for the bail bond service. You will not receive it back after the successful completion of your case.
A bail bond service removes all your worries and anxieties, typical after an arrest. There is usually a lot to worry about, including the family and job you have left behind and the trial. Bail bondsmen handle the bail process on your behalf to avoid stressing you further. Once the company obtains the information it needs to process your bail, it will locate you from the jail where the police have detained you. The company will also prepare your paperwork and process your release without your involvement. Generally, the company considers all your needs after signing an agreement.
Jail Information
Court Information
Fontana Superior Court of California
17780 Arrow Blvd, Fontana,
CA 92335, United States
Find a Trustworthy Bail Bondsman Near Me
If you or someone you know is arrested in Fontana, do not allow yourself to stay in police custody for a prolonged time. If you are eligible for bail but cannot afford to pay, you can work with a reliable bail bondsman. A bail bondsman will prepare all the paperwork to facilitate your release from jail. They will ensure you are back home and at your job immediately after your arrest.
We help all defendants post bail at Riverside Bail Bonds. Our bail bonds give them hope of freedom after an arrest, allowing them to pick up their jobs and families from where they left off. It also benefits defendants who want to prepare well for their trial. Call us at 951-788-2663 if you want help posting bail. We will gladly discuss our rates and start the process for your pretrial release on time.
